I haven't seen a specific "I would support this guy for President" forum. While many complain about President Bush, who are the viable alternatives? As was discussed on another page, some vote Democratic just because they are so anti-Republican or more pointedly, anti Neo-conservative. While your complaints about the current administration and many of the problems associated with it are rational, take it another step and tell me, who is the best man or woman for the job?

For the sake of clarity and understanding, would you tell me who you would support and most importantly WHY. At this juncture, the list of who will run is murky however, some have stated an interest and since you guys read more than I am able, throw your thoughts on the table.

Thanks.

I think we should look at the governors of various states, excepting CA and FL, of course. Montana has a good one, as does my own state of North Carolina.

SOMEONE with INTELLIGENCE and INTEGRITY who can be depended upon not to make a complete fool of himself or herself every time he or she opens his or her mouth. SOMEONE who can keep his or her hands off other leaders and has a reasonable grasp of international etiquette and protocol. SOMEONE who can bring a quick end to the illegal war in Iraq and bring our troops home.

Pulling anyone from the House or Senate might not be a good idea. I think America is hungry for a major change, and that means new, younger faces with some fresh ideas. Whoever it turns out to be, he or she is going to have a really big mess to clean up.

Catherine

If I were an American (thankfully, I'm not ) I'd like:

Scorp?

Can you see at all why words such as these might be construed as being anti-American,
and those of us who are Americans, on a forum for and about American Politics, who tend to be rather proud of this country that you seem to hold so much disdain for?

Sky?

Can you see the 3 smilies I put after my comments?

Do you know what the word "sarcasm" means?

Can you ever read something and not take it literally?

Try to read between the lines a little. You'll enjoy life much more once you expand your limited outlook.

Brent Budowsky: 'Al Gore for president: The man meets the moment'
Posted on Thursday, August 31 @ 10:01:02 EDT
This article has been read 1870 times.
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Brent Budowsky

Imagine this: a President of the United States with vast domestic and international experience who would aspire to unify the American people, uplift a reformed American politics, and inspire friends of freedom and democracy everywhere.

Imagine: a President who would assume office with commander in chief quality experience who would be trusted on matters of war and peace; and with a temperament that respects the breadth and diversity of the American Family and brings people together in common cause.

There will be other candidates for President who have much to offer and would deserve enthusiastic support. In my opinion, Al Gore is unique because of the extraordinary breadth of his experience, his ability to get ahead of the curve on cutting edge issues, and his vast knowledge that war and peace issues should be decided with integrity, clarity, and the full involvement of the American people, Congress, and allies.

Beyond all of the individual issues is this: the kind of America a Gore Presidency would bring, which would let loose the positive and creative energies of a good and great people, versus the kind of America George Bush has brought, which is what the overwhelming majority of the American people want to end.



Unlike virtually every major Democrat in Washington Al Gore was dead right about Iraq from day one. This commends him for the Presidency for two reasons, both equally important. The first reason is that with decades of national security experience he was wise enough and smart enough to know that the Iraq War was a tragic mistake. The second reason is profound: Al Gore had the courage and clarity to speak out clearly, forcefully, and unequivocally without the maneuvering and positioning that led virtually every leading Washington Democrat to be dead wrong.

Iraq alone should not be disqualifying. But this is the defining war of our times, and evaluating who should be leader of the free world and commander in chief, the fact that Al Gore was completely right and courageously straight is a monumental plus.

When George W. Bush took office, he was a man of enormous self-esteem but virtually zero knowledge of the world, zero understanding of foreign nations, zero understanding of military strategy or military life. When Al Gore was a young man he had vast curiosity about the world that continually expanded his knowledge throughout his life. He was not a war hero, but accepted the obligations of service, joined the military and had more world experience and war experience returning from Vietnam than George Bush did the day he took the oath of office as President.

Al Gore has been in a military family, respects military leaders, knows military issues, has experienced sacrifice in service, knows that American diplomatic leadership is essential to world security, would never send our troops to war without adequate support, and learned from long experience that mobilized support from democratic allies is vital for diplomatic and military initiatives.

If Al Gore becomes President and commander in chief on the day of his inaugural he would be one of the most qualitied leaders to ever assume the Presidency. Years in the House of Representatives, years in the United States Senate, eight years as one of the more active and respected Vice Presidents. Deep and serious involvement for decades in military strategy and global economics, an enormous body of first rate leadership in protecting the environment, advancing new technologies, and advocating a pro-America energy policy that aggressively promotes new energy sources to protect our security and our consumers.

These are not merely position papers, or bogus internet petitions that are little more than fund raising tools of the consultariat class. These are areas of leadership that comprise a lifetime body of work: serious, substantive and real.

These are initiatives of meat and potatoes, of impact and depth, that required substantial intellectual content, developed throughout thirty years of work, involving major collaboration with excerpts in the field, and often collaboration with interested Republicans and independents.

Since leaving the Vice Presidency, Gore could have made a small fortune through less noble pursuits, but has continued his life pattern of major leadership well beyond his opposition to the Iraq War.

Inconvenient Truth is a perfect example. He tapped decades of work with environmental leaders and scholarly knowledge; he worked with Hollywood in a higher pursuit of a major documentary that combined major intellectual quality with major public impact.

Gore combined his knowledge of environment and energy with his interest in financial markets and global economics, through Generation Investments which brings together enlightened money with socially conscious business.

Gore has spoken passionately and eloquently about the Bill of Rights, human rights, political freedom, checks and balances and American Constitutional democracy. Others have spoken out as well, but in considering which candidate best articulates the American idea I commend Gore's sweeping speech at Constitution Hall and other strong, detailed statements on these subjects.

Al Gore understands from many decades of real world experience and a lifetime body of work in the House, the Senate, and as Vice President that we have three branches of government, two major political parties, key allies around the world, and that ALL must be respected and involved on the great issues of security.

We are not a country with a French King who says "L'Etat C'est Moi" or a Nixonian President who says "I am the law". We are not a country where intelligence is distorted, where war is used for partisanship, where opponents are called traitors, where the Bill of Rights is bartered away, where Guantanamos are justified, where Congress is treated with contempt, where Courts are bypassed and ignored, where the American people are insulted with a politics of fear, where allies are demeaned, and Washington is turned into a capital of courtiers, sycophants and influence peddlers.

Al Gore does not blame the American people by suggesting we have psychological trauma because we know things have gone terribly wrong. Al Gore embodies the American people and the real America. Imagine the kind of country we will be, with a President who believes these things, based on decades of hard leadership, substantial experience, and achievement from a lifetime body of serious work.

There are other good candidates that will emerge. In my humble opinion, the man and the moment come together. The mission is clear, the moment is now, and the man is Gore.

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?s...ted&order=0

[planet be protected and allow America to force them into a Democratic form of government. I believe this was Gore's plan and is certainly not mine. It is not the function of the federal government to set standards in our academic institutions and certainly not to mandate programs that add nothing to the teaching responsibilities of the schools.

American education has failed totally to teach reading, writing and simple skills to make every child in America self sustaining. The parents gave up years ago trying to guide their children into a higher form of society. The churches have failed to instill simple laws of conduct. This must stop! Leaving anything to the government is a death wish.

I want a President who will scale back on government authority and force people into guiding themselves into improving their skills and working for their own family costs. We need a man who will stress survival over religion.

I see nobody on the horizon at this time who isnt wringing his hands just waiting to get the power offered by the White House. My hope is that after the November elections we will get a better indication of how American voters react to the Bush Administration and then we should have a better indication of what people want.

It looks to me as if a full-blown socialism is what the people want with everything from the crib to the grave to be guaranteed. The other alternative is to develop a strong theocracy and let the religous leaders direct our lives. It will of course be a Theocratic Socialism and will be ignored by most people. We are simply repeating our European ancestors and what they went through when searching for the perfect government. We are too stupidquote name='Sandy' post='70971' date='Friday, 1 September 2006, 8:44 am']
I want a leader who can rule by the laws set down in the U.S. Constitution. I don't care which party he represents and it would be wonderful if he ran and won as an Independent. But are the American voters prepared for someone out of the loop of politics? We now all represent groups who demand our agenda be addressed. From the religious right to the many minorities who feel they need more money and attention, we apparently have lost the end game of freedom.

Personally I do not want the government to take care of my health care, education, wages, and decisions of when and where our young men are going to die. America must take care of itself or die like the wooley mammoths of the past. Someone wants a leader who will guarantee that the entire to realize we had it at one time but we too damn lazy to keep it.

If I were an American (thankfully, I'm not ) I'd like:

Nader

Obama

Gore

Dean

Not in any order, I just happen to think that these four men really represent what is supposed to make America great.

What are Obama's credentials ? He's only been a U.S Senator for less than two years.